Blessings and Resposibilities of Being a Christian - Cont.

There are certainly more blessings and responsibilities that we have as Christians. We will look at two more in this lesson. The blessings of the Holy Spirit and the church. We have the blessing of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us - 1 Co 3:16 "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" Wonderful blessings are attributed to the Holy Spirit's indwelling. He gives us strength to put to death the fleshly deeds of the body - Ro 8:11-13 "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."; Ep 3:16 "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,", 20 "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,". He also helps in our weakness when it comes to praying as we ought, by acting as an intercessor for us - Ro 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

What responsibilities do we have in view of the Spirit's indwelling? To keep the temple of God, the church, holy - 1 Co 3:16-17 "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple." We are to glorify God even with our bodies - 1 Co 6:18-20 "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." We are to Walk in the Spirit, being so led by the Spirit as to produce the fruit of the Spirit - Ga 5:16-18 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.", 22-25 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." This we do by setting our minds on the things of the Spirit - Ro 8:5-6 "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." Which involves the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit - Ep 6:17 "and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,".

We have the blessing of having the church as our family - 1 Ti 3:15 "if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth." The members become like fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters - 1 Ti 5:1-2 "Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father. Treat younger men like brothers, older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity." They can even replace physical relations we may lose when we become Christians - Mk 10:28-30 "Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life."; Mt 12:46-50 "While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."'

What responsibilities do we have to the church as our family? We are to "edify one another" - He 10:24-25 "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." This necessitates assembling together frequently. This requires each one doing their share - Ep 4:15-16 "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. We are to "bear one another's burdens" - Ga 6:1-2 "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." For such is the "law" of Christ. This requires that we know each other well, and can be depended upon to provide support.

There are certainly many more blessings and responsibilities that we have as Christians. But I hope that these suffice to impress upon us... How blessed we are as Christians. How important it is that we fulfill our responsibilities-- Or we may lose the blessings we have! - He 3:12-15 "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."'

Blessings and Resposibilities of Being a Christian

A Closer Walk With God

Blessings And Responsibilities Of Being A Christian

Every person has some big events in life (for example: birth, graduation, marriage, death). But the most important event for anyone is becoming a Christian! Why? Because it affects both you and others for ETERNITY. Unfortunately, many people become Christians and do not really appreciate it until late in life, if ever. But our service for Christ would be more productive and infinitely more enjoyable if began by grasping the true significance of being Christians, and as such, the children of God. This lesson is the first in a series designed to encourage and instruct one to have "A Closer Walk With God," and to be more fruitful in our service as disciples of Jesus Christ.

To help motivate us in fulfilling this goal, let's summarize just a few of the blessings and responsibilities we have as Christians... We have the blessing of God as our heavenly father - 1 Jn 3:1 "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." Let's consider this blessing of having God as our father. He is the source of every good and perfect gift from above - Ja 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."; Mt 7:11 "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" He provides us comfort in all our afflictions - 2 Co 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." When needed, in love He chastises us. read - He 12:5-11. He has promised never to forsake us - He 13:5-6 "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"'

Yet, there are responsibilities for having God as our Father. We must "submit" to God - Ja 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." By submitting to His Word. By submitting to His providential workings in our lives - 1 Pe 5:6-11 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen." We must also "draw near" to God - Ja 4:8 "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." Just as an earthly father delights when his children want to draw near to him, so does God - Mt 23:37 '"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!" We draw nearer to God by "cleansing our hands" and "purifying our hearts" - Ja 4:8, that is, by obtaining forgiveness and then strengthening our resolve to serve Him. For the Christian, this involves repentance, confession of sins, and prayer - Ac 8:22 "Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you."; 1 Jn 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

We have the blessing of Jesus Christ as our Lord and high priest - 1 Co 8:6 "yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist."; He 4:14 "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."

Think for a moment about this blessing. He who is our "Lord" is also He who rules over the kings of the earth - Re 1:5-6 "and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." All authority in heaven and earth has been given Him - Mt 28:18 "And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." All have been made subject to Him - 1 Pe 3:22 "who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him." Yet, He calls us His "brethren" ! - He 2:11-12 "For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, "I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."' As "High Priest", He intercedes in our behalf - Ro 8:34 "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." A High Priest who understands our every feeling - He 2:17-18 "Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." A High Priest who "ever lives" to make such intercession for us - He 7:24-25 "but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

What are our responsibilities of having Jesus as Lord and High Priest? If He is truly our LORD, we must do what He says - Lk 6:46 '"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" We must be careful to observe what He taught - Mt 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."' We must keep His commandments - Jn 15:10, 14 "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." - "You are my friends if you do what I command you." We must also utilize His role as our High Priest - He 4:14-16 "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." In other words, be quick to obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. Again, for the Christian this involves prayer.

There are certainly more blessings and responsibilities that we have as Christians. We will look at two more in the continuation of this lesson. The blessings of the Holy Spirit and the church.

Are You a Disciple of Jesus? - Part Two

Being a disciple has a price we must pay. Is the cost worth it? I believe so, for consider some of the rewards of discipleship... There is the promise of "future blessings". We shall be saved from the wrath of God which is yet to come upon the world for its sins - Ro 5:9 "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." We can look forward with joyful anticipation of eternity with God, free from sorrow, pain and death - Re 21:1-8 (read).

There are also "present blessings". Jesus offers a peace the world cannot give to calm the troubled heart - Jn 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." His words inspire joy to lift our spirits out of any depression - Jn 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." He also offers to those who follow Him the abiding love of God, which can cast out fear - Jn 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love."; 1 Jn 4:18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." And he makes it possible for us to be members of the family of God, which is able if need be to replace our physical family - Mk 10:28-30 "Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life." There are many other blessings we could mention that are enjoyed by disciples of Jesus; but these suffice to demonstrate that though discipleship is costly, the rewards far exceed the cost!

Now that we understand the nature of discipleship, its cost and rewards, I hope that we want to be true disciples of Jesus Christ. But how does one begin? For the answer we return to our beginning text - Mt 28:19-20. The beginning of becoming a disciple involves baptism - Mt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,". Why baptism? Remember the goal of discipleship: to be like Jesus. He was holy and sinless, yet we are to be like Him. Fortunately, baptism is described as an act of faith which puts us in contact with the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ so we can be forgiven - Ac 2:38 "And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.; 22:16 "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'"; Ro 6:3-4 "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." It is also the means by which one "puts on Christ" - Ga 3:27 "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." -- So baptism is the logical starting place for true discipleship!

But what is baptism? It is an act of submission which must be preceded by faith in Jesus and repentance for our sins - Ac 2:36-38 "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."; 8:36-37 "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."(KJV). This precludes infant baptism. For infants are incapable of believing and repenting. It is also an act of submission which involves a burial in water, in which one then rises to walk in newness of life through the power of God - Ac 8:38; Ro 6:3-4; Co 2:12 "having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead." This precludes sprinkling or pouring as a mode of baptism. For neither of these involve a "burial" nor an immersion (which is the meaning of the Greek word "baptidzo"). When done according to the Word of God, baptism then becomes an act of faith on our part which results in a wonderful working of God in our lives! Our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus - Ac 22:16; Ep 5:25-27 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." We are "regenerated" and "renewed" by the Spirit of God so we can now live for God! - Ti 3:5-6 "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,". It is truly a "rebirth" involving both water and the Spirit - Jn 3:5 "Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

Teaching and obedience must follow our baptism - Mt 28:20 "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."' This brings us back to the very definition of discipleship. For Jesus clearly states: we are to be taught (that is, to be learners); we are to observe (that is, to be adherents or doers). In this way we embark on a life devoted to learning and doing all that Jesus commanded.

Only those scripturally baptized and demonstrating the "marks" of discipleship, despite the "costs," can truly be called disciples of Jesus! Only they can realistically look forward to the "rewards" of discipleship, and take consolation in the promise of Jesus: "and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" - Mt 28:20. If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, then the prospects of "A Closer Walk With God" and more fruitful service as a disciple should be of great interest to you. I hope the lessons to follow will help fulfill that interest.

Are You a Disciple of Jesus?

A Closer Walk With God

Are You A Disciple Of Jesus?

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

The above statement was made by Jesus to His apostles shortly before He ascended to heaven - Mt 28:18-20. Commonly called "The Great Commission," notice the main thought of Jesus' command... "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...". To "make disciples," therefore, is the GOAL of evangelizing the world for Christ. Are you a disciple of Jesus? More than likely you believe in Jesus... You might even be one to attend church services regularly. -- But is that what it means to be His disciple?

The purpose in this study is to make clear what is involved in being a true disciple of Jesus Christ. To begin, let's define the word "disciple"... The word "disciple" literally means a learner. According to Vine's Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, it denotes "one who follows another's teaching". But a disciple was not only a learner, he was also an adherent. For this reason disciples were spoken of as imitators of their teachers.

The goal in being a disciple is stated by Jesus himself: to be like the teacher - Lk 6:40 "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher." To be Christ's disciple, then, is to strive to be like Him! According to the apostle Paul, this coincides with God's goal in the redemption of mankind, that they be conformed to the image of His Son - Ro 8:29 "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." Do you have a strong desire to follow Jesus and become like Him? Unless you do, it cannot be said that you are truly His disciple!

There are also some "identifying marks" of discipleship given by Jesus which can help us to further identify ourselves as a true disciple of Jesus... A disciple is "one who abides in Jesus' words - Jn 8:31 "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,". This would imply being a diligent student of the teachings of Christ. It also requires one to be a "doer" of the Word - Mt 7:21-27 '"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."'; Ja 1:21-25 "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." In view of this, a true disciple would not fail to study the Bible diligently. A true disciple would not willingly refrain from opportunities to study with others (for example, Bible classes, church services, gospel meetings).

A disciple is also "one who loves the brethren" - Jn 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."' With a love patterned after the love of Jesus ("as I have loved you"). With a love that is visible to the world ("by this all will know"). Therefore, a true disciple would make every effort to get to know his brethren. A true disciple take advantage of occasions to encourage and grow closer to them (for example, attending services on Sunday and Wednesday nights, taking advantage of as many opportunities as possible to be together). Remember, a disciple is one who wants to become like his teacher. Was Jesus willing to sacrifice time and effort for His brethren? Of course, and so will we... IF we are truly HIS disciples!

A disciple is "one who bears much fruit" - Jn 15:8 "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." Notice the word "much" (also found in verse 5). Jesus is not talking about an occasional good deed, but a lifestyle which prompts people to glorify God! - Mt 5:16 ""I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

Joh 15:2 Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. This is so important, that failure to bear much fruit will result in being severed from Christ - Jn 15:1-2 '"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." How can one be a disciple if he or she is cut off from Christ? The point should be clear: to be a disciple of Jesus Christ means more that just a casual church member. It requires commitment, especially in regards to: the teachings of Christ; the love of brethren; bearing fruit to the glory of God.

The kind of commitment involved is seen further when we consider the "high cost" of discipleship demanded by Jesus in Lk 14:25-33... The high cost of being a disciple is that Jesus must come first - Lk 14:26 '"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." Before anyone else, including members of our own family - Mt 10:34-37 '"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Even before one's own self - Lk 9:23-25 "And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?"

We must be willing to suffer for Christ - Lk 14:27 "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." Trying to live godly lives in an ungodly world, we may find that following Christ sometimes involves ridicule and persecution - 2 Ti 3:12 "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,". Even if we are blessed to escape such things, we must still be willing to expend time and effort in promoting the cause of Christ in positive ways.

Put simply, we must forsake all to follow Christ - Lk 14:33 "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." In other words, Jesus must be King and Lord of our lives. Nothing can take precedent over Him and His Will for us. This kind of "high cost" of discipleship demanded by Jesus caused many people to turn away from following Him. But Jesus wasn't trying to attract large crowds, He wanted disciples! Being a disciple has a price we must pay. In the next part of this lesson we will examine what that price is.